After Violence, Congo’s Virunga National Park Closes for the Year After the murder of a park ranger and the kidnapping of two British tourists and their driver, the park, a major driver of tourism to the Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo, also known as DR Congo, the DRC, DROC, Congo-Kinshasa, or simply the Congo, is a country located in Central Africa. It is sometimes anachronistically referred to by its former name of Zaire, which was its official name between 1971 and 1997. It is, b…
What happened in the Virunga National Park?
It focuses on the conservation work of park rangers within the Congo 's Virunga National Park during the rise of the violent M23 Rebellion in 2012 and investigates the activity of the British oil company Soco International within the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
What is the meaning of the movie experience Virunga?
Virunga is a 2014 British documentary film directed by Orlando von Einsiedel. It focuses on the conservation work of park rangers within the Congo 's Virunga National Park during the rise of the violent M23 Rebellion in 2012 and investigates the activity of the British oil company Soco International within the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Where did the Virunga project begin?
Production began in 2012, when von Einsiedel traveled to Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo with the intention of documenting the positive progress which had been made by the park authorities in encouraging tourism and development in the region.
What happened to Emmanuel de Merode of Virunga National Park?
Virunga had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City on 17 April 2014. The premiere of the film came just two days after Virunga National Park's chief warden, Emmanuel de Merode, was shot by unidentified gunmen on the road from the city of Goma to the park's headquarters in Rumangabo.
What happened to Soco after Virunga?
Pharos Energy Plc, previously SOCO International, is an oil and gas exploitation and production company, headquartered in London. The company changed its name to Pharos Energy Plc in October 2019 after coming under fire for illegal activity in Virunga.
What happened to the gorillas in Virunga?
“It is with heartfelt sadness that Virunga announces the death of beloved orphaned mountain gorilla, Ndakasi, who had been under the care of the park's Senkwekwe Center for more than a decade,” a statement from the park said this week.
Is Soco still in Congo?
SOCO's exit marks end of a controversial history From 2007 to 2015, it attempted to explore for oil in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo's Virunga National Park, a UNESCO-protected World Heritage Site, paying others who bullied or bribed anyone who got in its way.
Is Virunga a true story?
VIRUNGA is the incredible true story of a group of brave people risking their lives to build a better future in a part of Africa the world's forgotten and a gripping expose of the realities of life in the Congo.
Which gorilla died recently?
The Zoo Atlanta family is heartbroken to announce the passing of Ozzie, the world's oldest male gorilla, at 61. The oldest gorilla at Zoo Atlanta and the third-oldest gorilla in the world, Ozzie was found deceased by his care team on January 25, 2022.
How many gorillas are left in Virunga National Park?
There are an estimated 1,000 remaining mountain gorillas in the wild, one third of which live in the Virunga mountains. Despite extensive conservation measures, these great apes are under threat from human activity.
When did Soco withdraw from Virunga?
(06/11/2014) In a surprise announcement, British oil company Soco International has said it will suspend exploratory operations in Virunga National Park, home to half the world's Critically Endangered mountain gorillas as well as thousands of other species.
Did Soco drill oil in Congo?
Conservationists have claimed one of their greatest successes in recent years following the unexpected decision by British oil company Soco to stop exploring in the Virunga world heritage site in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Is Virunga safe?
How dangerous is Virunga? Boasting Africa's most diverse wildlife, Virunga - which stretches across 7,800 sq km (3,000 sq miles) - is one of the most dangerous parks on the continent.
Is Soco drilling in Virunga?
Oil company Soco not to drill in Virunga World Heritage Site Soco International PLC will end its operations in Africa's oldest national park and also is committing to remain out of all other UNESCO WOrld Heritage SItes. "
When was Virunga released?
April 17, 2014Virunga / Initial release
How do I get to Virunga National Park?
Visitors to Virunga National Park can fly into Goma airport. Ethiopian Airlines and many domestic DRC airlines fly into Goma. It is advised to book accommodation in Goma on the day of your arrival since flights are regularly delayed.
What has been the greatest threat to the mountain gorillas?
Habitat Loss The primary threat to mountain gorillas is from the clearance and degradation of their native afromontane forest home. As the region's growing human population struggles to eke out a living, they encroach on the park system for its land and resources.
Who owns Virunga National park?
Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la NatureIn elevation, it ranges from 680 m (2,230 ft) in the Semliki River valley to 5,109 m (16,762 ft) in the Rwenzori Mountains....Virunga National ParkArea7,768.93 km2 (2,999.60 sq mi)EstablishedApril 1925Governing bodyInstitut Congolais pour la Conservation de la NatureWebsitevirunga.org21 more rows
What is the effect of poaching on the silverback gorillas?
Hunting and Poaching As a result of the gorillas' low reproductive rate, even relatively low levels of poaching can cause population decline which may take generations to reverse. Gorillas are also frequently caught, and maimed or killed, in traps intended for other forest animals.
What animals live in the Virunga Mountains?
The park is home to abundant wildlife, including elephants, whose numbers began decreasing in the late 20th century, and lions, which also face various threats. Hippopotamuses, rare mountain gorillas, okapis, antelope, warthogs, and pelicans all live in Virunga as well.
Who was the warden of Virunga?
The Battle for Virunga, Africa's Oldest National Park. Emmanuel de Merode , a member of the Belgian royal family, was named the chief warden of Virunga National Park in 2008. He was ambushed while driving in the park on April 15 and is currently recovering from gunshot wounds. PHOTOGRAPH BY BRENT STIRTON, GETTY IMAGES.
Where is Virunga National Park?
Virunga National Park stretches along the Albertine Rift in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and includes parts of Lake Edward’s shore. Almost two-thirds of the lake and about half of the park are within Block 5, an oil and gas exploration area accessible to Soco International. NG Staff. Source: Soco International.
What is Lukambo's job?
At 40, Lukambo has been fighting for Congo's wildlife for most of his adult life—a profession that has made him many enemies. The son of a local chief, he was born and raised among the fishermen of Vitshumbi, relocating to Goma in 1996, the same year the Rwanda-backed rebellion had swept through the region. Alarmed by the spike in poaching and illegal fishing as the rebels lurked inside Virunga's forests, Lukambo founded an NGO called Innovation for the Development and the Protection of the Environment (IDEP), and began partnering with ICCN and other local and international organizations working to protect the region's wildlife.
Where was Merode ambushed?
Emmanuel de Merode was driving to Rumangabo station from Goma on April 15, 2014, when he was ambushed near the village of Kibumba. The chief warden opposes all oil-related activity in the park and has worked to bring rangers back to the southern Mikeno Sector, once under rebel control...Read More
Where was the de Merode shooting?
On May 1, as de Merode was recovering from the shooting in Nairobi, Kenya, and preparing for his eventual return to the park three weeks later, Soco contractors began recording seismic data from the lake floor.
What is the mystery surrounding a wounded conservationist?
The mystery surrounding a wounded conservationist, and the fight for war-torn Virunga. The waters of Lake Edward have finally grown calm as Josué Kambasu revs his pirogue's outboard motor, steering the craft past the local pod of hippos before heading toward the fishing boats returning with their previous night's catch.
What is the habitat of Virunga?
Because of the park's wide variations in altitude and rainfall and its location along the seismically active Albertine Rift, its habitats include lava plains, tropical forests, marshes, savannas, glaciers, mountain snowfields, and two active volcanoes—including one, Nyiragongo, with what is arguably the world's most spectacular open-air lava lake.
What happened in the Congo before the presidential election?
Rebel group activity in northeastern Congo had led to a spike in violence in the region in the months before the December presidential election, raising concerns that the country could slide back into civil war. That violence has spilled over into the park.
Is the park in Congo closed?
After the murder of a park ranger and the kidnapping of two British tourists and their driver, the park, a major driver of tourism to the Democratic Republic of Congo, has closed until 2019.
What is the film Virunga about?
It focuses on the conservation work of park rangers within the Congo 's Virunga National Park during the rise of the violent M23 Rebellion in 2012 and investigates the activity of the British oil company Soco International within the UNESCO World Heritage site.
How good is Virunga?
The site's critical consensus reads " Virunga offers a heart-rending glimpse of natural wonders vulnerable to the atrocities of greed -- and the people devoting their lives to defending them". Metacritic, another review aggregator, assigned the film a weighted average score of 95 out of 100 based on 5 reviews from mainstream critics, indicating "universal acclaim". It is currently one of the site's highest-rated films.
When was Virunga released?
Release. Virunga had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City on 17 April 2014. The premiere of the film came just two days after Virunga National Park's chief warden, Emmanuel de Merode, was shot by unidentified gunmen on the road from the city of Goma to the park's headquarters in Rumangabo.
When did Soco stop holding a stake in the DRC?
On 4 November 2015, Soco said it no longer held a stake in the exploration licence for the DRC national park.
When was the Virunga documentary released?
The documentary was released onto the service on 7 November the same year. On June 23, 2020, it was announced that Barry Jenkins would write the feature film adaptation of the Virunga, and that Leonardo DiCaprio would produce it.
Is Virunga a documentary?
Ronnie Scheib wrote for Variety that Virunga was an "extraordinary documentary" with "enough action, pathos, suspense, venal villains, stalwart heroes and endangered gorillas for a dozen fiction films". Tom Roston wrote for PBS's POV blog that "Virunga is the best documentary I've seen this year.".
What is Joanna's experience?
Joanna has extensive experience in documentary film having directed and produced documentaries covering social justice and politics and has recently worked on some of the world’s most impactful feature documentaries. Most recently Joanna produced the Academy Award and BAFTA nominated VIRUNGA.
Where are the last mountain gorillas?
In the forested depths of eastern Congo lies Virunga National Park, one of the most bio-diverse places on Earth and home to the planet’s last remaining mountain gorillas. In this wild, but enchanted environment, a small and embattled team of park rangers - including an ex-child soldier turned ranger, a caretaker of orphan gorillas ...
Who is Patrick Jonsson?
Patrick Jonsson is a film composer/music engineer and a graduate of Berklee College of Music in Boston. In 2013 Patrick scored his first two dramatic feature films, including Bends, directed by Flora Lau, which had its premiere as part of the official selection for 'Un Certain Regard' at the Cannes International Film Festival where the music was praised in Variety: "Sparse dialogue and haunting music lend an alienating effect; other craft contributions are also excellent." Patrick recently received a nomination for 'Best Original Film Score' for Bends at the Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival.He has also composed music for numerous short films, documentaries and commercials, including the award-winning short film Skateistan: to Live and Skate Kabul which was an official selection at Sundance and SXSW.Additionally he assisted composers on a number of feature films such as Thor, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, My Week With Marilyn, Brave, Gambit, and The Imposter. Virunga is Patrick’s first feature documentary score.
Is Virunga a true story?
VIRUNGA is the incredible true story of a group of brave people risking their lives to build a better future in a part of Africa the world's forgotten and a gripping expose of the realities of life in the Congo. In the forested depths of eastern Congo lies Virunga National Park, one of the most bio-diverse places on Earth and home to ...
When did Virunga debut?
17 April 2014: ‘Virunga’ debuts at Tribeca film festival. Footage of Feruzi offering the $3000 bribe is subsequently seen by audiences and Soco.
What is the Soco response to the Virunga documentary?
Soco says the film misrepresents its activities and “insists that it is fully informed of all activities on the ground by its representatives and that its operations are monitored closely.”
How much did Feruzi get paid by Soco?
30 April 2014: Soco pays Feruzi $26,650. Feruzi’s note of receipt says the money was paid by Mr Damas [Vunabandi] and is to be used to pay soldiers’ salaries for April and per diems for May.
When did Soco deny any involvement in threats to activists?
13 May 2014: Soco denies any involvement in threats to activists.
When did Soco remove its response?
26 July 2013 : Soco responds to the NGO statement, saying that it is “aware of the allegations” and intends to “investigate these allegations thoroughly”. Soco subsequently removes its response from its website.
Who was the Chief Warden of Virunga Park?
15 April 2014: Chief warden of Virunga park Emmanuel de Merode is shot by unknown gunmen after returning from Goma where he had deposited a dossier on Soco’s activities.
Has Feruzi received money from Soco?
29 May 2014: A Soco spokesperson meets Global Witness to respond to the questions. The spokesperson says: “ He [Feruzi] hasn’t received money from us … We wouldn’t allow that and the books haven’t revealed that he has.”
